Chinmay Jani, MD, Receives $50,000 Binaytara Lung Cancer Research Award at 2026 Brooklyn Lung Cancer Conference

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — August 8, 2026 — Chinmay Jani, MD, an early-career faculty member and scientist at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital, has been named the recipient of the $50,000 Binaytara Lung Cancer Research Award - New York 2026 following the live Impact Pitch competition at the 2026 Brooklyn Lung Cancer Conference, held August 7–8, 2026.

The award recognizes innovative, high-impact research intended to advance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. Presented through Binaytara’s signature Impact Pitch, Binaytara Research Awards give early-career investigators meaningful research funding, national and international visibility, and mentorship from leading experts in thoracic oncology.

The Impact Pitch reflects Binaytara’s mission to improve access to cancer care by creating a highly visible platform for emerging investigators to present innovative research with the potential to improve outcomes for patients and communities affected by cancer. The live format enables young investigators to communicate their ideas, receive expert feedback, and demonstrate the practical potential of their proposals before peers and leaders in the field.

"I am deeply grateful to Binaytara, the Brooklyn Lung Cancer Conference chairs, and the Impact Pitch judges for believing in this project. This award reflects a truly collective effort: the clinical trial was initially conceived with guidance from my mentors, developed through the Sylvester Clinical Trial Workshop, and subsequently advanced through the SITC Clinical Trial Workshop. Its multi-omic framework was further refined through the AACR Integrative Molecular Epidemiology Workshop. Binaytara’s support will now help us move this collaborative vision closer to clinical implementation as I transition to a faculty role in Thoracic Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center - University of Miami."

- Chinmay Jani, MD

Dr. Jani 's clinical trial mentor is Dr. Gilberto de Lima Lopes Junior. Dr. Lopes is Professor of Clinical Medicine, Medical Director for International Programs, Associate Director for the Cancer Center, and Chief, Division of Medical Oncology at University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital:

"This award is an important recognition of Dr. Chinmay Jani’s innovative work and growing leadership in thoracic oncology. His project examining whether modulation of the gut microbiome with a combined prebiotic and probiotic intervention can enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy in lung cancer represents an exciting, readily translatable approach to improving outcomes while helping us better understand the relationship between the microbiome and antitumor immunity."

-Gilberto de Lima Lopes Junior, MD, MBA, FASCO

Also supporting Dr. Jani is his translational mentor, Dr. Dennis C. Watson, Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology; and Translational Research Lead, Thoracic Site Disease Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center:

"Dr. Jani is launching a clinical trial aiming to leverage host-microbiome interaction for lung cancer therapy. Working with our DiscoverTME laboratory at University of Miami, he will use this funding for advanced translational assays with the potential to inform development of a new standard of care."

-Dionysios (Dennis) C. Watson, MD PhD

A live research-funding competition

Dr. Jani was one of five finalists selected to participate in the Impact Pitch at the 2026 Brooklyn Lung Cancer Conference:

• Edoardo Garbo, MD, current fellow, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

• Joshua Bliss, MD, PharmD, current fellow, Weill Cornell Medicine

• Chinmay Jani, MD, early-career faculty/scientist, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital

• Olivia Fankuchen, MD, early-career faculty/scientist, Weill Cornell Medicine

• Bhavani Potluri, MD, current fellow, NYU Langone Health

Evaluation by expert Catalysts

Conference co-chair Rajwanth Veluswamy, MD moderated the Impact Pitch and the finalists were evaluated by four distinguished “Catalysts,” who mentored presenters on stage, asked probing questions to assess the completeness and practical readiness of each proposal, rated the presentations, and convened following the session to select the award recipient:

• Tina Cascone, MD, PhD, Associate Professor with tenure, physician-scientist, Multidisciplinary Section Chief, and Director of Translational Research in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

• Vamsi Velcheti, MD, MBA, FASCO, FCCP, Chief of Hematology and Oncology and Florida Department of Health Chair of Cancer Research at Mayo Clinic

• Corey J. Langer, MD, Director of Thoracic Oncology at the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

• Shirish Gadgeel, MD, Vice Chair of Clinical Research and Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Presentations were assessed using five core criteria:

1. Scientific merit — novelty, relevance, and scientific rigor

2. Feasibility — clarity of methods, timeline, resources, and budget

3. Potential impact — expected effect on patient care, the community, or the lung cancer field

4. Presentation and communication — clarity, organization, and audience engagement

5. Question-and-answer performance — ability to answer questions thoughtfully and defend the proposal

Dr. Jani’s selection reflects the strength of his proposal across these criteria and its potential to make a meaningful contribution to lung cancer research and patient care.

Supporting the next generation

The 2026 Brooklyn Lung Cancer Conference brought together clinicians, researchers, trainees, advocates, and other members of the oncology community to advance collaboration and progress in lung cancer care. The conference is part of Binaytara’s continuing effort to convene experts, strengthen education, and support the next generation of cancer-care leaders.

The conference planning committee included:

• Binay Shah, MD, MHA, Conference Director, Binaytara
• Rajwanth Veluswamy, MD, Conference Co-Chair
• Joshua Sabari, MD, Conference Co-Chair, NYU Langone
• Abraham Chachoua, MD, Conference Co-Chair, NYU Langone
• Amanda Kluxen, RN, Planning Committee, NYU
• Oscar Lahoud, MD, Planning Committee, NYU Langone

Through the Binaytara Research Awards, Binaytara continues to invest in promising early-career investigators and innovative projects that can advance equitable, patient-centered cancer care. The full list of funding opportunities is available on the Binaytara Research Awards page.

About Binaytara

Binaytara is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to cancer care through education, research, advocacy, and global collaboration. Its conferences and research programs bring together oncology professionals and emerging investigators to share knowledge, support innovation, and help address disparities in cancer care.